Manchester United Banter Archive April 01 2015

01 Apr 2015 20:50:01
I mentioned Janmaat as a player we should look at for the right back role a few months ago and it now looks like folk are in agreement on here that he would be an under the radar but very good signing.

After Coleman he would be my first choice on the JMB list!

02 Apr 2015 09:30:38
I want clyne, that boy has it all. I like janmaat hadn't really seen Mich before the world cup but when Newcastle signed him I was a little shocked tbh. He reminds me of ivanovic so much.

02 Apr 2015 09:43:14
I'd have him ahead of Coleman personally.

We lack height, 6ft-1 and good both forward/defence, he also is intelligent, would cost less and would settle quicker imo.

02 Apr 2015 13:30:14
I like clyne and want to keep an English core to the team but clyne has had half a good season.

01 Apr 2015 17:01:29
Aston Villa this weekend boys. This was the very first fixture I attended at OT. 1957 !!! Score? 1-1 (Tommy Taylor) They beat us 2-1 a bit later in the Cup Final. Bloody hell what a journey eh? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Patrick

01 Apr 2015 18:22:16
Patrick you are one tech-savvy grandpa.

01 Apr 2015 22:28:24
Kind words Mumbai kind words - but as Denis famously said, "I'm only a lad !"
Patrick

01 Apr 2015 14:07:53
Does anyone see any substance in the Roberto Firmino rumours? Part of me can see it making sense what with Mata finding his best form outwide, Di Maria will be best out wide when he settles. We don't really have a proper attacking midfielder (if you count Mata as a winger). I don't count Fellaini as one either. So buying Firmino as a proper central attacking midfielder/playmaker may make sense.

01 Apr 2015 15:24:05
The ed's have said we have interest but he is most likely to go Hoffenheim or Barcelona.

I still think LVG would prefer Mata as his advance midfielder in the 433 formation. He has done very well on the right but if you look at where he is on the pitch he is definitely more central.

I am hoping we buy a genuine right winger with Di Maria on the left and Rooney through the middle. The pace on the wings would push teams back and with the possession game we are playing we will find it very easy to control matches which is what LVG loves.

01 Apr 2015 15:41:46
Firmino is already at Hoffenheim, and are Barca still not under embargo over summer? Either way, he would be a very good attacking option for under £20 million too.

01 Apr 2015 16:43:19
With us seemingly looking for a striker, I can see Rooney moving back to the number 10 area.

However, I would be just as happy with Firmino in there with Rooney up top, and going all out for Gabigol (Gabriel Barbosa) to learn from Rooney and bed him into the team over time. This would be my ideal summer.

01 Apr 2015 16:45:32
Should have said from Hoffenheim to Barce! My bad!

I also think he would be a good signing but not great.

01 Apr 2015 17:21:31
Firmino has tremendous potential and he has turned up in the big games which a lot of flair players don't. Playing off of Rooney with Di Maria/Mata/ or hopefully Bale to the wings would give a formidable and very nicely balanced attack.

01 Apr 2015 12:58:10
I just wanted to ask how some of you know so much about so many players. Every time a "lesser known" player is mentioned, some people know all about the said player, whatever their nationality, whatever team they play for, and in any league in the world.
How do you have the time to watch every player in every league?
Am I the only one on here who works, or has a family?

PS Not referring to the Eds!!

01 Apr 2015 13:17:07
Its a combination of football manager, being an anorak or just good old fashioned bs

01 Apr 2015 13:19:37
may be they google it :)

01 Apr 2015 13:20:16
Betty,

I think generally people just go off what they have read other people say or how good they are on Football Manager, it is amazing how when we get linked to a player in the paper the next day people are on here with them on their wishlists, it happens all the time, especially over the summer.

I am aware there are a few people on here with great knowledge of players from other leagues before people get on their high horse, but I take a lot of what people say with a pinch of salt.

{Ed007's Note - Betty why not include the Eds - you don't have to deal with Ed004 and his constant teams, formations and wishlists!}

01 Apr 2015 13:20:29
I agree Betty. I learned a new one today, Arias who is apparently as good as Coleman and Clyne etc yet I couldn't even tell you who he plays for or what his first name is. But he is apparently that good.

If it wasn't for the World Cup I would struggle to know who Depay was.

01 Apr 2015 13:52:38
YouTube is the fountain of all knowledge

01 Apr 2015 13:45:16
It is generally something with the same initials as yourself mate. No doubt some have a good knowledge but the majority is Googled.

01 Apr 2015 14:16:53
Ed Bond, I take your point as regards Ed004. I just regard Es004 as being like "Fresh!" but with Editorial privileges.an over enthusiastic and excitable fan who reads too much twitter :)
No offence intended to Ed004 or Fresh!, just banter.

{Ed001's Note - we do call him Fresh a lot of the time....}

01 Apr 2015 14:32:42
I just need to see a player a couple of times to form a half decent opinion, i'm normally pretty accurate. But to be fair my knowledge is mainly Prem Players and well known ones abroad (like the vast majority if they are being honest).

I learnt a long time ago to never rely on other peoples opinions and attempt to pass them off as "my view", it happens far too much, it also works in general life as well. I hate meeting somebody for the first time when I already have heard biased opinions on what they are like, you can't help but pigeon hole at times.

Just look how much we all debate our own players who we see week in week out, so taking any other persons opinion on a player is often risky. But I do know that if GDS2 rates them highly there is a strong chance I won't, haha.

01 Apr 2015 14:32:55
I can't speak for anyone else but I watch a lot of football, on average 1 match a day. I also have several friends from around the world whom I trust their opinion. They tip me off on players they have seen, I also watch players who we have been linked with. I watch Eredivisie and Bundesliga football as well as Premier league. I watch a few Ligue 1 games a month and a few Serie A, I'm not keen on La Liga as the gap between the top couple of teams and the rest is so huge it lacks much competitiveness.

I spent time in an International school in France as a child and made several friends there who keep me up to date on players from their own countries.

I suppose it's like my own little scouting network. lol

01 Apr 2015 15:24:26
Shappy, without blowing smoke up your, erm chimney? you are one of the ones who's opinion I would take notice of. You have been posting for a long time and always back up your posts with "War And Peace". No, sorry I meant facts! lol.

I was being a bit mischevious towards some of the "in the knows" who have encyclopedic knowledge of every player on the planet!

01 Apr 2015 16:29:33
Beast,

Actually there is a good chance you will think they are good but wouldn't play very well under LVG ;)

01 Apr 2015 16:54:42
Being at Uni, and not going in too often (have to be honest with that one haha) I tend to watch a few matches from different leagues featuring players i've either known about for a while or have heard people raving about. Watching youth tournaments often leads to me tracking a player for a while and keeping up to date on how he has been performing. I'll admit I do tend to get over excited with players, but hey-ho who doesn't.

Ps. If any of you have kids going away to Uni any time soon, fogure out how to put a lock on their computer after 1/2am. from personal experience i've watched an average of 2/3 movies a night for the last year and a half, unless i'm out on the lash of course!

01 Apr 2015 12:29:32
Dont know if this has been mentioned.

What's people opinions of the Contrao story?

People say we have enough cover in that position but Blind (started as a 6 and is his preferred)and Rojo haven't really played there consistently in a while(world cup aside) they have generally played in various positions and can do a job filling in.

Contrao if i'm not mistaken has played most of his Career as a left back. Would people not see him as a perfect acquisition to help increase the potential of Luke Shaw who although has bags of talent could benefit from the added experience?

01 Apr 2015 13:10:21
Coentrao plays LW for Portugal and Eliseu plays as LB.

God knows when was the last time he started for Real Madrid.

We have a lot of other positions to focus on and left back is the least of our concerns right now.

01 Apr 2015 13:21:46
Makes no sense to me, we are well stocked in that area with an up and coming star we paid £30 million for and 2 players who played left back for their countries in a world cup semi final (one in the final).

I have a feeling the quote from Coentrao is either old or him trying to get a move as he doesn't appear to be wanted at Real.

01 Apr 2015 13:24:52
i don't get the argument, a young player will benefit from having his first team chances limited

01 Apr 2015 13:55:08
All fair points but I wasn't looking at it from a point of limiting Game time for Shaw it was more having Contrao as second choice but bringing experience. Although he hasn't started much for Real people were crying out for him to sign 2 seasons ago albeit on loan.

It would fit in with the whole 2 players for every position Woodward discussed.

Do people really see Rojo and Blind really being the designated cover for Shaw? I don't IMO

01 Apr 2015 16:21:38
Bgolgo, would he want to go from being second choice at RM, to second choice here, though?

01 Apr 2015 18:09:13
Fair Point Noucamp chances are he'd have more game time than at Real.

But it's Hypothetical of course

01 Apr 2015 08:47:48
Morning all,

Here's a question: Do you think Rooney will go down in he Legends category along with your Giggs, Cantona's, Bobby Charltons etc. and do you think he deserves it?

In my opinion he does, and i want to see him become a legend of this club. He is currently 20 goals away from being the clubs all time top goal scorer, he is now our captain and he has shown copious amounts of passion. I know people will say he 'held the club to ransom' but i don't believe it, he asked for more money and he got it.

Let me know .

HarryUTD

01 Apr 2015 09:34:02
Def LEGEND!

01 Apr 2015 09:49:40
For me, yes. Assuming he breaks the goal scoring record for club and country, how can he not be regarded as a United legend.

01 Apr 2015 09:58:20
Whether people love him or loath him he will become a legend. Yes he has had his ups and downs but he has been one of England's best players for some time and despite most people saying he isn't a striker he is close to breaking 2 extraordinary records for both club and country.

01 Apr 2015 10:20:54
He's been a class player for us. Not the sharpest tool in the shed but he sweats blood for us every single time he walks on the pitch. Legend in red.

01 Apr 2015 11:24:10
Glad your all agreeing with me, for some reason i had an inkling nobody thought it.

01 Apr 2015 12:31:25
Yes. people will look back in 10-15 years time and appreciate all he did and achieved no doubt about it

01 Apr 2015 12:45:07
I think one of the issues with Rooney was that he embodied and acted out the disappointment many of us felt as we watched the team's quality deteriorate, with Ronaldo and Tevez going, and Giggs, Keane and Scholes not being replaced with like quality. But over his whole career, you can't argue with the club legend status.

And to this day he has one achievement that stands out above all others - he remains the first person ever to have written a book before he actually read one.

01 Apr 2015 13:20:32
Well in 50 years time all that will be left is the stats and the records on the books so he will be considered a legend by posterity.

01 Apr 2015 13:23:21
His book is actually pretty good shawthing, some of it made me quite emotional, he is a similar age to me and playing up front for Manchester United, that was my dream as a kid and he is living it.

01 Apr 2015 13:30:56
Shawthing, that's funny but a little unfair. Rooney is very intelligent. He left school with a BSC with honours.

PS BSC = Bronze Swimming Certificate :-)

01 Apr 2015 14:22:27
I, personally, don't think that he will become a 'legend' in the same way that say Edwards, Charlton, Cantona, Scholes, Giggs and the like have become. These players are legends in EVERY United fans eyes. For me players like Best, Robson (my favourite United player), Beckham, Ronaldo, Rooney, Keane etc were all great players for us at one time or another, but for different reasons they haven't and wont, for me, become legends.

Best let his personal life get in the way of United and his career too much, Beckham probably the same which led to SAF selling him too soon, Robson had the Juventus episode, Ronaldo left too young, Rooney with his contract issues, Keane with his books etc since he left.

This has tarnished each player in the eyes of a lot of United fans, and for me a player has to pretty much have every United fan in agreement to become what people like to call a true club 'Legend'. I have no doubt that the media, club etc will use the term but to many it won't be the case. I will remember him as a great player who, along with his agent, spoiled the way a lot of fans felt for him and who also had his share of poor seasons.

So, i will remembe him as a great goal scoring striker, who worked hard but whos poor touch and short passing let his game down and who held the club to ransom twice. So not enough to be a legend for me.

01 Apr 2015 16:24:52
Cheers, Brendan. Saved me a lot of bother.

01 Apr 2015 19:25:54
Glad to be of assistance NC99

01 Apr 2015 22:00:18
I disagree Brendan. I can see where you are coming from but for me I think the majority of Untied fans will view him in the same light as the guys you've mentioned.

When you consider he will be our all time leading scorer along with his longevity at the club and the ever growing reputation he has amassed since his youth days he will go down as a true great at the theatre of dreams.

On top of that he has won every piece of silverware from the league title to the champions league and has been part of some of the most formidable strike forces at our club for a long time. He is the one big name who has stood by us when other left Ronaldo, Tevez etc.

Even after all his accolades and trophy's he is now captaining our club into the new era post Fergie and is stepping up to that responsibility each week. I personally would regard him as highly as Charlton and Cantona etc.

01 Apr 2015 22:25:46
He is already a UTD legend IMO.

01 Apr 2015 22:20:12
Personally , I don't hold Rooney in the same regard as Edwards , Law , Best , Charlton etc. But "legend" is a very subjective word. I think sportsmen in particular are more likely to be regarded as legends after they has stopped playing , or even after they have passed away. I think in a way , people often see "legends" as past , or historical figures.
For me , Rooney has been a very influential , and good player for us. I don't see him as a legend.

01 Apr 2015 23:20:17
I agree BS, players are never really considered legends in their playing days. I just don't see Rooney being called a club legend the same as the players I mentioned in 20, 30, 40 years. Yes a player who scored lots of goals for us but not legend. He wouldn't be here if we hadn't agreed to his extortionate wage demands, that kind of action doesn't make him a legend for me. I don't remember hearing about Edwards, Charlton, Cantona, Scholes, Giggs etc only wanting to stay because we agreed to pay them stupid amounts of money on 2 occasions.

31 Mar 2015 22:13:01
Eds, With Real Madrid interested in signing Danilo, do you think we would look at Carvajal as a summer target?

{Ed002's Note - No.}